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Curt S. Mowers

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Q uestion: What are the real facts on marijuana, and can you be arrested for driving after smoking it? How bad is it really? I know some people want to legalize it to tax it and for medicinal purposes.

Question : I recently called 911 to report a suspected drunk driver. I have never done this before, so was uncertain of proper procedure. I gave location and description of vehicle. My question is, should I have followed the car until an officer located the vehicle or considered my civic duty done?

Q uestion: Can you address the correct way to drive through a construction zone when posted “Reduce speed – 45 MPH Fines double in construction zones”? What is the proper speed when no workers are present, such as evening and night time hours? Are the rules the same in all states?

Question: With all the enforcement projects going on, why are we still seeing so many fatal crashes being reported? I thought the enforcement projects helped with that? Answer: You’re right. We have had deadly 2013 on our roads. Deaths are up slightly compared to 2012. This demonstrates how dangerous our roads can turn when unsafe decisions are made behind the wheel.

Question: I live in a rural area near a highway where I see people passing on the right all the time. I see this in many places and they are doing this at major intersections, too. Cars don’t even slow down, they just blow around the left turning vehicle using the turn lane and I have seen a lot of near crashes because of it. Can you please talk about this issue of passing on the right before someone else gets killed?

Question: There is an article I have seen printed numerous times over the years through different venues stating what happens in the first second of a fatal crash. I haven’t seen it for a while now, but I was always wondering if it was accurate or just made up.

Question: As an officer, I notice a lot of motorists using bypass lanes as pit stops, stopping in them to use their phone, or for other reasons. I appreciate passing lanes, and I am in favor of them. I wish there were more of them. I do stop and advise these pit stop drivers that they have chosen one of the most unsafe places to stop. I explain to them that a passing vehicle may not see them until it is too late.

Question: This is a follow-up question to your recent article about people from other states moving to Minnesota, and having 60 days to get their Minnesota driver license. Does someone from another state moving here need to take a road test or just a written test? I have relatives moving here soon and they have a valid license from another state and want to know what they need to do, or what they can expect.